Current-testing device.



H. H. MORRELL.

CURRENT TESTING DEVIOE.

APPLIOATION IILED 8312122, 1908.

944271. Patented Dec.28, 1909.

WITNESSES NVEV TUR W CW 4 yHMrreZZ ATTORNEYS UNITED\ sr TEs PATENT OFFICE."

HAanY`HoUsE MORRELL, or nnwronx, N. Y.

GURRENT-TESTNG HDIEVICE.

To all whom 'it may concem: j Be it known that I, HARRY HOUSE MOR? RELL, a cit-izen of the United States, 'residing in the city of New Yorkf'borough of Manhattan, county and State of New Yorl, have inveuted a certain new and useful Current-Testing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an 'electrical current testing and connecting device or implement, the function of which is to determine the presence of an electric current in a circuit, and it is available, also, for use in conjunction with electrical measuring instruments for deternining the voltage or amperage of a current, but it will be apparent froni the description hereinafter given that the device "is capable of use for many purposes in the electrical art. r'.

In'one aspet, the inventin consists of a stern of conducting material, said stem 'being Secured to a handle, andmeans normally connected with said stem whereby an electric current may pass therethrough.

The device is simple in construction and operation, and provides a means whereby electrical connections, for the purposes stated, may be readily and efl'ectually made. As will hereinafter appear, the conducting stem may be made in various forms, but the form which I p refer to use, consists -of a tapering stem adapted to be connected with one of the conductors of a circuit, 'and means, preferably in the form of a ring, for securing eflicient electrical contact between said conductors.

In using the device in connection With electrical measuring instruments, two of the inplements are employed, one connected with each Vconductor of a circuit, and the points of the stems thereafter applied to the bnding posts of the measuring instrument, thereby enabling the current to be sent through said instrument with ease and safety.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated difl'erent practical embodiments of the invention, but theconstructions shown therein are to be understood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of` a current testing device embodying vertica cross section, on an enlarged scale,

v the plane of section being indicated by the 'i dotted line 2-2 of Fg.

the present invention. Fig. 2 is a- I Specificaton of Letters Patent. Patented De a, 28, 1909 Application filed September 23, 1908. Serial No. 454304.

1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the handle of the device, with the stem disconnected therefrom'. Figs. 4:, 5 and 6 are views in side elevation of other forms of current conducting stems embodying 'the invention. F ig. 7 is an end view, on an enlarged scale, of the divided portion of the stem shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end view of a modification of the device shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment of the handle. I

The device, A, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings comprises a current conducting stem, B, and a handle, C, the latter being composed of insnlating material, and sj bstantially inclosing a portion of said stem, B. The stem, B, is composed of current conducting or carrying material, referably metal, and in one embodiment o the invention said stem consists of members, b, b', and ahead, b, said members and head being integral. Member, b, of the stem tapers to apcint, and it is provided with a roughened exposed surface, .6 somewhat similar to the surface of a file, whereby the or abrading a metallic surface preliminarily tothe application of' the point, b, to sai cleaned surface in order to secure good metallic and electrica'l contact therewit-h. Member, b', of stem, B, extends iman opposite direction to head, b from member,b, and in the several forms of the invention this member, b', is tapering. Head, b is intermediate the end portions of the stem, and is positioned between members, b, b', said head being provided with means whereby the stem may be fixed relatively to handle, C." Said handle is provided with a chamber, c, which opens through one end thereof as at' 0.' ,the other, end of said handle being closed by a solid integral head, 0 The handle is provided with an opening or slot, d, which'is in communication with cha'mber, c. "Withn this open end handle, C, is provided with\ a longitudinal groove, d', which opens into acurved or bayonet shaped groove, d i r Stern, B, has an interlocking engagement' by the I outward y; fron head, b When the stem s to be connected to the handle the tapering member,

device or implenent may be used in cleanng V with insulated/handle, GJ This`is Secured rovision of a stad, e, protrudmg b', s "inserted through the open end, c', of the handle, head, b?, snugly fitting in said open end. The stud,` e, passes An essential featureof the invetion con ssts of means for securing an-electric con- B, independently of theductor to the stem, attachment of said stem to the insulating handle, C. Said means is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as consisting of a clamping ring, D, which; is loosely fitted on taperin member, b", of the stem. A conductor,'E, s adapted to pass through opening or slot, d, of the handle, an end portion of said conductor is passed through the ring, D, after which the ring and the conductor are moved along the .tapering member," b', of the stem until said rng clamps an exposed or bare metal portion of the conductor into firm engagement with the stem. r a

When it is desired' to attach an electric conductor, E, to` the testing device, stem, B, s turned in handle, C, and pulled out-' wardly therefrom, thus withdrawing head,

' 6 andmember, b',`from said handle' "The 'conductor is now inserted through slot, d and chamber, c, end of sad conductor is passed through ring, D, after which the ring with the conv ductor .is clamped firml y -ductorlooped th'ereon is Inovedtoward the larger end of member, b', until the coninto engagement with said. member, -thereby securng .good electrical contactbetween the conductor and the stem, B.- Conductor, E, is now partlyv 'withdra'wn from slot,' d, of the handle and the stem is again locked therein member, b', nto the handle and curved groove, d

In the practical operation of testing, two

` of the devices are used, one beingcomected to the positive terminal or conductor'and the other to the-negative terminal `or conprovided with an opening, d in communicbf' ductor of an 'electric circut. In this connection itmay be proper to remark 'that the two devices which *form the positive and negative terminals of a circnit may be distinguished from" each other by Construction of the i devices 'or by the' employment of indicating ;characters -or symbols thereon, ;for example, the insulating handle, C, of one device may be colored red to indicate the positive terminal, whereas.

. the corresponding handle of the other device may be colored-black to designate the of handle, C, and the free' by inserting turning the stem until its stud, e, engages with the.

any' proper a ing slot, j,

negative terminal. The stems, B, are adap ed to be placed on the binding posts of an, electric'meter for the purpose of conducting current to said meter, or said devices may y may be determined'; or said devices, or either of them, may be used n various. other ways.

The stem shown in Fig. t embodies the members, b, b', with an intermediate head, 6 the form of which is somewhat changed from the reduced and shouldered head of Fig. l. Stud, c, extends directly from head, 6 and it is adapted for interlocking en- 'gagement with the handle in the nanner heretofore described. Member, b', of the stem is shown as having a knob, f, at its larger end, and around this knob may be passed a half-hitch of the wire or conductor, the free end of said wire or conductor being clamped by ring, D, into engagement with stem, B. 1 i 5 i Fig. -shows another form of stem, similar to Figs. 1 and 4:, but in said Fi 5 member, b', is provided with a longitudinal bore or passage, g, the latter' opening through one side of said member, terminatingin an opening, g'. .The end portion of a wre or conductor 's adapted to pass through passage,

A g, and opening, g', after which said wire or conductor may be wrapped one or more 4 times around said member, b', and be clamped firmly in position by ring, D.

Fig."` 6 shows a further modification of conducting stem, B, wherein the member, 'b',

'isdivided so that one part, h., of the member s` movable with respect to the other part, h', The member, b', may be elastic or of pring onstruction, but it 'is preferred ato pvotall the fixe part, h', by pin, i. The 'opposing faces of the'parts, h, h', composingmember, b', may be flat, as shown n Fig. 7,- or the part, kf, may have 'a convex face andthe part, Jo, may'have a concave face as-shown in Fig. 8. A wire or conductor is adapted to. be fittedbetweenthe opposing faces of parts, h, h', and by adjusting ring,`D, the conductor or wire is adapted tobe clamped' firmly between said pa-ts of the stem,

The handle, C, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is

tion with chamber, c, through which opening is adaptd to pass the wire *or conductor, E; but in Fig. 9, I haveshown substantially the same fol-n of handle,' the opening in which is elongated so as to produce a taperthe latter being in communication with chamber, ci The tapered sI`ot 'is an advantage for the reason that the wire or conductor, E, after its introduction into the handle may be ulled into 'the narrow part of the slot, j, w ereby said wire is-adapt'ed connect the movable part, IL, to i to be wedged into the handle instead of passing loosely therethrough as iu the constr'uction of Fg. 1. v

From the foregoing'description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be observed that I have provided various con structions of the current conducting stem whereby a wire or conductor may be attached fixedly' to said stem independently of the handle and by devices which secure good electrical contact of'the conductor or wire with the stem. It is preferred, for variouspractical reasons, to employ shit'table ring, I), for the,purpose of clamping the wire or conductor into engagement With the current conducting stem, butit is evident that this shiftable ring 'may be omitted. In one' phase of the invention, the wire or conductor nay be looped aroundnember, b', with a half-bitch so as to be attached thereto a l, turthermore, various other forms of devices may be employed 'tor clamping the wire or conductor to the stem.

While I have described the device as adapted for use particularly for current testing purposes, it is manifest that said device may be used in nany other relations in the electrical art, such for example, as a current conductor, and for plugging n' purposes. 'l`he new constructon whereby electrcal conductors may be securely and-quickly attarhed to a metallic stem is a novel feature of this invention, and this Construction may be ,availed of in attaching conductors to 'plugs generally and, more particularly, to telephone plugs or connections.

Having t-hus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Acurrent testing device conprising a single stem having a tapering member, a clamp slidable 'upon said tapering member and Operating to secure a conductor thereto, .and tan -insulated handle inclosing said stem for a part :of its length, said handle being tastened to the sten independently 'of the conductor securing clamp, said stem being;

` exposed fora part of its length beyond the stem,

duttor to a part ofsaidstem and exteriorly of. the stem, and a handle composed of insu- V handle and adapted for making electrical contact with the part or device to be tested.

2. A current testing device comprising a means for detachably fasteninga conlating naterial and fastened' detachably to said stern at a point intermediate the ends thereof, said handle inclosing a part of the 'stem and' the conductor fastenng means,

and the remainder of the stem being expos'ed t beyond said handle. for the purpose of making electrical contact with the part or device tobe tested. v

3. A current testing device comprising a one-piece stem having an integral tapering member, means slidable' upon said tapering" 'with the stem on `handle being detachahly fastened to stem at a point internediate the ends therejf' of said conductor securing means nenber for clamping a conductor (letachably thereto, and a detchable handle secured to the stem at. a point intermediate its ends, said handle inclosing the tapering member and the conductor clamping means,

the renainder of the stem being exposed beyond the handle for making electrical contact with the device to be tested.

4. In a current testing device, a one-piece stem provided With an integral tapering member, a ring-like clamp slidable freely on saidtapering member and adapted to fasten a conductor thereto, and a handle fastened to said stem at a point intermediate the ends thereof and independent-ly of the clamp, said handle inclosing the taperi'g part of the stem and the clamp.

i 5. In a current testing device, a stem provided with a unitary tapering member, a handle, and meansoperating independently of the handle for detachably clamping a conductor to said stem, said handle being attached to the stem at a point intermediate its ends and Operating 'to inclose the tapering member and the conductor-clamping means.

6. In a current testing device, a one-piece .stem provided with" a tapering member, a handle, means independent of frictonal contact for positively and detachably lockingthe stem and handle together at a point intermediate the ends of said stem, and means for securng firn engagement of a conductor with said tapering' member ot' the stem, said handle inclosing the tapering member and the conductor securing means.

v 7. In a current testing device, a one-piece stem composed of two longitudinal members,'one of' which -is tapering, a handle attached to the stem at a point intermediate the'members thereof, and-inclosing said taperin member, and a slidable clamp moi able reely on the tapering stem for clamping a conductor thereto, said clamp operating to retain the conductor in engagement the removal of the handle.

8. In a current testing device, a. stem composed of a single piece of conducting metal, a handle provided with a slot-'intermediate its ends, said slot aflording means for the insertion and for the free play of a `conductor into the handle, and means for securing the conductor to said stem, said of, whereby the stem may be` withdrawn from the handle without discohnecting the conductor therefron. p

9. In a'current testiugdevice, a' one-piece stem comprising longitudinal members integral with a head intermediate said members, neans for seem-ing a conductor to one of said members, and a handle independent casing the same and. also, one sten member,

but inone member of said stem being exposed beyond the handle for electrical i for analogous purposes, comprising a stern means and detachably affixed to said and adapted to be brought at will 'into elec said handle having detachable intel-looking engagement with said head of the stern and the device to be tested. 10. A hand tool for ascertaining the presence of a current in anelectric ercuit, and' contact with composed of electrc conducting material, means for detachably securing a conductor into electrical engagement with the eX- 'ternal surface of said stem, and an insulating 'handle separate from 'said 'securing stern and inclosing. the conductor clamping means, said' stem being normally exposed for a part of 'its length beyond the handle e trical contact with the device or tested.

`11., In a current testingdevce, a chambered handle closed at one end by a solid head and provided with' a tapering slot into which a conductor maybe wedged, anda single sten to which said conductor is -adapted to be attached, said handle being detachably fastened to said stem intermediate the ends thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my. name to this specification in the presence of ,two subsc'ibing witnesses.

part' to be HARRY HOUSE MORRELL.- WVitnesses: I I

H. I. BERNHARD, C. POWELLT 

